The Study of Change

No one likes boredom. It is likely that the biggest contributor to boredom is a lack of change. Good news for you! There is no way chemistry can be a boring subject; after all, chemistry is the study of change.

Amazing But True!

What is chemistry? Many western textbooks describe a history for the term “chemistry” originating in either Greece or possibly Egypt. Indeed, “Khem” is an ancient name for Egypt and alchemy (the precursor to modern chemistry) may simply have meant “the art of the land of Khem.”

Interestingly, the Chinese have studied the observable world for millennia, and the modern day Chinese characters for chemistry might most accurately describe the subject. ?? translates into chemistry. The first part of this compound character is ? (change). The second part of this compound character is ? (study). Together, they represent the study of change.

Mastery of chemistry allowed the Chinese to invent fireworks in the 7th centry. They were used to accompany many festivities